Globe-supporting device.



No. 818,103. EATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

J. P. LITSEY. GLOBE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1905.

NITED STATES PATENT ()FFIC j.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 1'7, 1906.

Applica i n fi e SeptemberQl, 1905. Serial No. 279,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. LITSEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Globe-SupportingDevices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in educational appliances, andmore particularly to means for supporting geographical globes in adesired position with their axes at a desired inclination and the globeitself at a convenient height for examination and study; and it consistsin the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafterfully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a globe, showing it suspended from a ceiling, thesuspension devices being constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the meridian-ringand the supportingclamp. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary central section of the globeand meridian-ring, the ring being shown partly in elevation.

In studying globes, especially those of twelve inches in diameter orlarger, it has been found convenient to be able to support them atdifferent heights and to incline their axes at different angles inrelation to the position of the student and also to have them supportedin such a manner that the globe may be swung in a horizontal circleabout the observer as a center, the plane of the meridian being alwaysmaintained in the north and south plane. It is also convenient to somount the globes that they may be quickly and easily raised entirely outof the way when not in use. To accomplish the above, I have provided themeans which I will now describe.

In said drawings, 1 illustrates a globe which is revolubly mounted onthe axis 2, which is removably mounted in the meridianring 3. Themeridian-ring 8 is provided with oppositely-disposed annular flanges 4at its outer edge, and the U-shaped clamp 5 is provided, which isadapted to receive the flanges 4 between its jaws 6, the free ends ofsaid jaws being bent inwardly to engage the is provided with aclamping-bolt 7, which I passes through holes in said jaws 6, and saidjaws are adapted to be drawn tightly against said flanges by same. Thehole in one of said jaws is square, and the shank 7 of said boltimmediately beneath its head is square and adapted to fit in said squarehole to prevent said bolt from turning, and the opposite end of saidbolt is threaded and provided with the thumb-nut 8, whose operation isobvious. Said clamp 5 is provided on its base with twooppositely-disposed laterally-extending arms 9, which incline upward ata slight angle, the free ends of said arms bein provided withperforations 10, adapted to receive hooks or other devices to connectsaid clamp to suspending cords or wires 11. Said suspending cords passupward, preferably divergent, over pulleys 12, suspended from theceiling or other convenient support. They are then brought together andsecured to the single cord 13, which is trained over a pulley 14,preferably located adjacent a convenient wall, and a balance-weight 15is secured to its free end. The globe 1 is thus suspended in a mannerwhich makes it convenient to raise and lower it very easily. Byloosening the clamping-bolt 7 the meridianring may be easily movedthrough said clamp and the axis of the globe 1 adjusted to any desiredinclination, and by again tightening said clamp it will remain securelyin that position.

In hanging globes for study it is preferable to hang them so that theirmeridian-ring lies in a north and south plane and to maintain themeridian in that plane regardless of the various positions of the globeitself. The clamp which I have devised and which is provided with thesupporting-arms rigidly attached thereto effectually prevents the rotation of the meridian into any other plane than the one intended unlessthe supportingcords are forcibly revolved around each other. This actionis entirely different from what it would be if there were a swivelconnection between the supporting-arms and the clamp. The axis 2 of saidglobe is mounted in radial holes in the said ring, the center line ofsaid radial holes passing through the ninety-degree point, andconsequently it does not alter the latitude-reading of any point on thesur face of the globe when the inclination of the axis or pole ischanged, as occurs when the axis is mounted in a separate movable ringmounted within the meridian ring. Said axis comprises a rod 16, which isturned down at its ends to form the bearings or pivots 17 and 18, thepivot 17 being much shorter than the pivot 18. Radial holes 19 and 20are drilled in the inner edge of said meridian-ring for the reception ofsaid pivots 17 and 18, respectively, said hole 20 for said pivot 18 being quite deep and adapted to receive the small coiledcompression-spring 21 between the end of said pivot and the bottom ofsaid hole. Said spring 21 is adapted to hold said axis endwise, with theshoulder 22 at its opposite end pressed firmly against the inner edge ofsaid meridian-ring, and as said axis is longer between said shoulder andthe free end of said pivot 18 than the inner diameter of saidmeridian-ring said axis is thus held securely in its proper position.Thimbles 23 and 24 are provided, mounted upon said rod 16 and adapted toenter the central opening 25 of the bar 26 within said globe 1, wherebysaid globe is revolubly mounted. upon said axis. To remove said globefrom said meridian-ring, said rod 16 is forced endwise against theaction of said spring 21 until the free end of said pivot 17 is freefrom said meridian ring, when the ring may be passed to one side and theopposite end of said rod withdrawn from same. The solid axis, asillustrated, has been found to be much stronger and permanent than thedivided axis in common use. Suitable stops 27 may be arranged on saidsupporting-cords to engage said pulleys or their frames, therebypreventin said globe from being raised or lowered too 'ar.

My device is very simple, strong, and durable and easily manipulated.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a geographical globeprovided with ameridian-ring, of means for revolubly mounting said globein said ring, means for adjustably mounting said ring as to height andthe inclination of said globe, comprising an axis adapted to be mountedin the ring and receive said globe, and said ring being provided at itsouter edge with an annular flange on each face, a clamp comprising twojaws, adapted to bear upon the edges of said flanges, projections-on thefree ends of said jaws adapted to extend within said annular flanges andengage the inner faces of same, means for forcing said jaws toward eachother; oppositely-disposed laterally-extending rigid supporting-arms onsaid clamp, cords attached to the free ends of said arms,supporting-pulleys, said cords be ing drawn over said pulleys and abalanceweight attached to the free ends of said cords, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a geographical globe provided with an axialopening and a meridian-ring, of means for revolubly mounting said globein said ring and means for adjustably mounting said ring as to heightand inclination of the axis of said globe, comprising an axis adapted tobe mounted in said ring and receive said globe, said axis being reducedat its ends to form pivots and shoulders and said ring being providedwith radi ally-disposed openings adapted to receive said reduced ends acompression-spring in one of said openings adapted to hold said axisendwise so that the shoulder at its opposite end engages the inner faceof said ring, said ring being provided at its outer edge with an annularflange on each face, a clamp comprising two jaws adapted to bear uponthe edges of said flanges, projections on the free ends of said jawsadapted to extend within said annular flanges and engage the inner facesof same, means for forcing said jaws toward each other;oppositely-disposed laterally-extending rigid supporting-arms on saidclamp, cords attached to the free ends of said arms, suitablesupporting-pulleys, said cords being trained over said supporting-puLleys and a balance-weight attached to the free end of said cordssubstantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN P. LITSEY.

Witnesses:

R. A. FISCHER, E. F. WILsoN.

